Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Sri Lanka Buttala Kumbuk River Resort

Kumbuk River Resort

Spend the night inside a two-story elephant villa.

Buttala, Sri Lanka

Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

After 26 years of civil war, the government of Sri Lanka finally defeated rebels and restored control over the island in 2009. Since that time, Sri Lanka has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and has worked to bring in more visitors through eco-tourism. One of the hottest new spots for eco-tourism in the nation is the Kumbuk River Resort.

Billed as an eco-preserve, the resort lets tourists rent out the entire 14-acre plot, and stay in the world's largest elephant. Not exactly a live elephant, but a 2-story thatched elephant-shaped villa. Resembling a jungle-dwelling trojan horse, the elephant villa even has modern amenities; living room, bathroom and plunge pool.

From the location, visitors can explore the surrounding landscape and see real elephants during the day and rest in the belly of the beast at night. To preserve the environment of the resort, no more than 12 guests may stay at the resort at one time.

Related Tags

Shops Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Places To Stay Architecture

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Published

November 22, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Kumbuk River Resort
Buttala
Buttala
Sri Lanka
6.758923, 81.24913
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Buduruwagala

Buduruwagala, Sri Lanka

miles away

Biso Pokuna

Galabedda, Sri Lanka

miles away

Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawa, Sri Lanka

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Asia

Places 39
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Buduruwagala

Buduruwagala, Sri Lanka

miles away

Biso Pokuna

Galabedda, Sri Lanka

miles away

Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawa, Sri Lanka

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Asia

Places 39
Stories 7

Related Places

  • Skinnskatteberg, Sweden

    STF Kolarbyn Eco Lodges

    Bring your hiking shoes, wool socks, and thermal underwear for a stay in these cozy forest huts.

  • Cantwell, Alaska

    Igloo City

    Four-story concrete hotel never opened to customers.

  • Wigwam Village No. 2. (Wikimedia Commons)

    Cave City, Kentucky

    Wigwam Village #2

    One of the few surviving "Wigwam"-themed motels.

  • Front entrance to the Whale House.

    Santa Barbara, California

    Whale House

    This stunning sea creature-shaped home blends into the landscape like a fantasy villa.

  • Santa Claus House

    North Pole, Alaska

    Santa Claus House

    A trading post in the North Pole where children send letters.

  • Quetzalcoatl’s Nest

    Naucalpan, Mexico

    El Nido de Quetzalcóatl

    An Aztec snake god has taken the material form of an apartment complex.

  • Hôtel de Glace

    Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Québec

    Hôtel de Glace

    This chilly Canadian hotel has a four-month lifespan due to the unusual material it's made of.

  • Icehotel

    Kiruna, Sweden

    Icehotel

    The world's first ice hotel is still one of the most elaborate and beautiful.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.